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Walker says he was 'surprised' by Koch's hint he's the favorite

Walker, the governor of Wisconsin, told The Des Moines Register in a sit-down interview Tuesday that he was surprised to hear reports Tuesday that Koch had privately told people that Walker should be the next p

Walker says he was 'surprised' by Koch's hint he's the favorite

Liz Mair, who was hired as an online consultant on Monday by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (pictured), resigned a day later after she came under fire from the Republican Party of Iowa’s chairman for mocking Iowa and its role as the state that votes first in presidential nominating contests.(Photo: Michael Zamora/The Register)Buy Photo

Likely presidential contender Scott Walker says he thinks having the approval of any regular Iowa voter is as good as having the inside track with GOP super-influencer David Koch.

Walker, the governor of Wisconsin, told The Des Moines Register in a sit-down interview Tuesday that he was surprised to hear reports Tuesday that Koch had privately told people that Walker should be the next president.

"I'm glad that he said it but I'm surprised," Walker said, "because I get the sense that they and their organization were largely staying neutral until after the primaries."

Koch, a billionaire businessman, and his brother Charles Koch, hold outsized sway in U.S. elections because their political and policy organizations raise and spend hundreds of millions on campaigns and super PACs that push for tax cuts and a more restrained government.

On Monday in Manhattan, David Koch gave guests at a fundraising event the impression that Walker is his favorite among the 2016 presidential lineup, according to comments made afterward to The New York Times.

Walker was in Des Moines Tuesday to meet with Republican state legislators in private meetings. Asked if he secretly thinks he's Koch's favorite, or if he's gotten any backdoor indication that financial support will be coming his way, Walker said Koch's comments were unexpected.

"From what I understand he said something when I left. I was at a fundraiser for the New York state GOP, the Republican party there. And he got up and said something about me being, that I'd be a great president or something like that," Walker told the Register.

"We're thrilled that he said that, just like I'm thrilled when somebody in Dubuque or Des Moines or Cedar Rapids says I'd be a great president."

Koch later Monday quickly issued a written statement meant to clarify his remarks. "While I think Gov. Walker is terrific, let me be clear, I am not endorsing or supporting any candidate for president at this point in time," he said in the statement.

Walker said Tuesday he's still not sure whether he'll run.

"I'm not going to make any decision about even getting in until after the budget's done, which will be in June," he told the Register.

GOP officials in Iowa have said they hope Walker and other contenders will commit to participating in the Iowa Straw Poll in August. Asked if there would be a downside to competing in the straw poll, Walker answered: "It's tough to say right now because I'm not a candidate yet. If chose to be a candidate, I'd certainly consider it. I'll be here a lot."

Walker noted that he'll be in three parts of Iowa over the weekend – in Sheldon in northwest Iowa, in Cedar Rapids in northeast Iowa and in Des Moines in central Iowa – for various fundraisers for local Republicans.